422 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



ammonia. The precipitate being dried, indicates the quantity of 

 alkali in the bark. In this way, M. Veltman found that from 3.3 

 to 6.0 parts of vegeto-alkali were combined in 100 parts of dif- 

 ferent varieties of bark. — Bull. Univ. C. xx. 297. 



17. Taste of Sulphate of Quinia. — ^The bitter taste of sulphate 

 of quinia is so strong, that the mixture of one part with 160 of 

 sugar still has it sensibly. It is, however, remarkable, that if one 

 part of the same salt be mixed with ten or fifteen parts of the 

 powder of valerian, fennel, anis, orange peel, &c. a mixture is ob> 

 tained which has scarcely any bitterness. Sugar, therefore, is a 

 bad thing to remove the bitterness of sulphate of quinia : the end 

 may be better obtained by the use of some aromatic powder.— 

 Mag. fur Pharmacie, 



18. Phosphate of Quinia. — ^The phosphate of quinia, rendered 

 slightly acid, is, according to M. Harless, a much milder medi- 

 cine than the sulphate or the free alkali. It is better retained on 

 the stomach where irritation exists, or by nervous patients, or by 

 those who are subject either to congestions of blood or inflamma- 

 tion ; its use does not occasion that unpleasant feeling which is 

 sometimes produced after taking the sulphate : it does not so rea- 

 dily accelerate the motions of the heart, nor does it irritate the 

 bronchiae or lungs. In consequence of its insolubility and pulve- 

 rulent state, it is administered in pills, from one to four grains being 

 a dose. — Bull. Univ. C. xx. 240. 



19. Sertuerner^s supposed new Alkali, Chinio'idia. — MM. Henry 

 and Delondre have sought for this vegeto-alkali, but could not find 

 it, and they believe its non-existence fully proved. The substance 

 mistaken by M. Sertuerner appears to have been a compound of 

 quinia or cinchonia, with peculiar yellow matter, rendering them 

 uncrystallizable ; but this substance being removed, the true vegeto- 

 alkalies appear with their distinctive characters. These experiments 

 were made with the mother-waters resulting from the treatment 

 of 200,000 lbs. of yellow bark. 



20. Mutual action of Iodic Acid and Morphia. Serullas. — 

 If a single grain of morphia, or acetate of morphia, be put into a 

 solution of iodic acid, the liquid becomes of a reddish-brown 

 colour, and exhales the odour of iodine. The effect is sensible with 

 one hundredth of a grain of acetate of morphia. The action is 

 quick if the solutions are strong ; more tardy if weak : but is sen'* 

 sible in a few seconds when 7000 parts of water are present, tj lii.v 



Quinia, cinchonia, veratria, picrotoxia, strychnia, brucia^ dtid 

 narcotine, have no action on iodic acid of this kind. Hence, iodic 

 acid becomes an important test of the presence of morphia, or its 

 acetate, sulphate, nitrate, or muriate, even when mixed with other 

 substances or vegeto-alkalies, provided they have no action of this 



